ADVENT 2015 Edition
Principal
W. Brunton
Dear Parents,
December ~ Hope
Vice Principal
M. Boscarino
Head Secretary
R. Leonardo
Assistant Secretary
J. Lister
Superintendent
D. Amaral
905-890-1221
Trustees
S. Hobin
905-301-1210
M. Pascucci
Let us pray… for the grace and courage to be people of
hope, people who can see, participate in and contribute
to God’s goodness emerging around us.
A hopeful person is… someone who inspires others,
sees the good in the world and is able to overcome all
obstacles by knowing and trusting in our Lord.
Administrator’s Message…
Advent is a season of hope and celebration. We strive to
prepare our hearts and our lives as we wait in great
anticipation for the coming of Jesus. The birth of Jesus
signifies a new beginning that heralds new hopes and
dreams that light up our lives and give it new meaning.
As we approach the Christmas
Season, we would like to offer a sincere
Thank You to all of you participating in
Our “Angel on the Tree” initiative.
This initiative runs from November 17th
to December 14th. This tradition provides
us an opportunity to make a difference in
the lives of families in our own community
that need help in providing for their
families at Christmas time. Every child has
that special wish at Christmas; we would
like to help fulfill those wishes.
When your child brings in the gift they will
be able to choose an “angel” to place on
the Christmas tree with your family name
which is located in the front foyer of the
school. As always, thank you your
generous support.
905-302-3096
Parish
St. Mary Star of the Sea
Fr. Neil McMillian, Pastor
905-278-2058
St. Christopher
Fr. Scott Young, Pastor
905-822-1171
May the promise of Christmas help to show God’s
boundless love for you and your family, and may you be
blessed with good health, prosperity and happiness
throughout the New Year.
PRINCIPALS
We take this opportunity to wish everyone a joyous
Advent season, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year!
W. Brunton & M. Boscarino
PALS’
MESSAGE C
A special thank
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Advent Mass
Our Advent Mass will take place
on Wednesday, December 16th
at 9:00a.m. in the school
gymnasium. Parents are
welcome to join us. Poinsettia
donations are welcome to
decorate the gym.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
LIVING NATIVITY
Our Catholic School Council Meeting dates for 2015-2016
are as follows:
For unto us a child is born!
Please join us on Tuesday, December 8th,
2015 from 7:00p.m.-8:00p.m. for an
evening of community and fellowship as
we celebrate the birth of our Saviour!
Please be advised that this is an outdoor
event so please dress for the weather.
Wed. Jan.20th, Wed. Feb. 17th,
Wed. April 20 th, Tues. May 17th, Tues. June 14 th
QSP FUNDRAISER
Thank you for supporting our QSP magazine sale!!
Many magazines will start arriving shortly. Please keep in mind
that some subscriptions may take longer to start depending on
the magazine ordered and number of issues per year.
If you have any Questions, contact QSP customer service at
1-800-667-2536
SANTA VISIT
On Thursday, December 10th Santa will be
making a special visit to our school.
Students will have the opportunity to take
their pictures with Santa (along with
siblings and friends if requested). Please
ensure you submit your order form and
payment to your child’s teacher by Friday,
December 4th.
ATTENDANCE
Please call to register an absence – 905-274-2760. You can call
24hrs. An answering machine is available to take information.
Please provide your child’s name, grade and teacher’s name.
If an absence is not reported, our policy is to call home to
verify student absenteeism. A parent or guardian must sign out
students who leave early. A reminder to parents and students
that an expectation set out from the beginning of the year
clearly indicated that all students must arrive at school on time.
Even though our deadline for sending in orders and getting
prizes has passed, you can still order online anytime at great
prices and our school still benefits!! Take advantage of QSP’s
great prices all year long, just go to www.qsp.ca and click on
“Shop Now” St. Luke code is 3716917.
ALL ST. LUKE PARENTS ARE WELCOME
A reminder to ALL parents who would like to volunteer at the
school this year, including those desiring to accompany classes
on Field Trips or Athletic events that a current criminal
reference check is now required. Forms can be picked-up at the
Office.
Please note that during busy times, it can take 6-8 weeks for the
Police to complete the check so plan ahead to avoid
disappointment.
Being consistently and continuously late interrupts classroom
learning activities, creates delays in the office and sets a poor
example for those who do arrive on time. Kindly note that issues
with lates and absenteeism will be dealt with strictly, and may
involve the school’s Administration, Child Youth Worker and
Social Worker.
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Gr.2 First Reconciliation & Holy Communion
Dates
CHURCH CHOIR
The choirs of St. Mary’s and the Salvation Army
Ensemble will be performing Christmas music in
a concert at the church on
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13th. . Everyone is
welcome!
ROSARY APOSTOLATE
St. Luke is proud to welcome the
Rosary Apostolate. Our first visit
from the Rosary Apostolate was
on Monday, November 30th.
Love and reverence for the Mother of God
and teaching students how to pray the Holy
Rosary constitute an essential part of the
Christian formation. The Rosary Apostolate
strives to fulfill this essential need.
St. Mary Star of the Sea
First Reconciliation: Thursday, March 10, 2016 @ 7p.m.
First Holy Communion: June 4/5, June 11/12, June 18/19
First Holy Communion is the beginning of a deeper union and
friendship with Jesus and a deeper oneness with the Eucharistic
community.
Grade 7 & 8 – Confirmation—Meeting for
Parent and Candidates
St. Christopher Catholic Church
Gr. 7 Parent Information Night: Tuesday, January 19 th or
Wednesday, January 20 th, 2016 from 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Gr. 7 Sacrament of Confirmation: May 10th/May11th
(TBD)
PASTORAL PLAN
Gr. 8 Sacrament of Confirmation: Wednesday, Dec. 2 nd.
Our St. Luke Pastoral Plan can be found on our website.
Thank you to Fr. Neil and our Parent Council for your
message of Faith.
St. Mary Star of the Sea
Sacrament of Confirmation: Sunday, May 29 th, 2016 @
11:00 a.m. Mass.
Confirmation is the beginning of a deeper commitment to
Jesus and to the mission of the Church.
HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION
THE VIRTUES INITIATIVE
It is important that our children continue to be exposed to our
Catholic Community through experiences at the parish.
The Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day and the Eucharist is
at the heart of the Church’s life. “Sunday is the day on which
the Paschal Mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic
tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of
obligation in the universal Church.‟ [CIC, can. 1246 # 1]
Throughout the school year, students experience the mystery of
Jesus Christ through celebrations, liturgies and mass. We
encourage all of our families to maintain these traditions
and obligations throughout the year by attending Mass as a
family every Sunday.
A key aspect of the Board’s strategic direction is the continued
development of safe, caring, inclusive Catholic school
communities. As a Catholic Community, we are called to
learn, grow and become more like Jesus. Catholic education
provides us the opportunity to integrate the virtues into our
students’ daily activity. The virtues will be celebrated every
month during announcements, in class during discussions, and
during the Living Our Faith Awards assemblies.
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September: Faith
November: Conscience
January: Self-control
March: Kindness
May: Acceptance
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October: Empathy
December: Hope
February: Respect
April: Love
June: Fairness
VIRTUE ASSEMBLY
On W e d n e s d a y , D e c e m b e r 9 t h , 2 0 1 5 , St. Luke
staff and students will celebrate our Living Our Faith
Awards of the year for grades J.K - 8 students.
It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our faith together by
highlighting the wonderful things your children do as a result of
hard work and perseverance. Parents will be notified by the
classroom teacher via a written note if their child will receive
an award. Please note the following times: K-2: 9:00a.m.
Grades 3-5: 9:45 a.m. & Grades 6-8: 1:00 p.m.
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SAFE SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
St. Luke is a Catholic community that respects
and promotes the uniqueness of all its
members. By following the teachings of Jesus, we
pledge to provide everyone with a safe, caring
and peaceful environment, which ensures the
respect and acceptance of all. Because of these
beliefs bullying will not be tolerated. Your
child deserves a safe environment in which to work, learn and
play. If you have any concerns, please contact us. Thank you
for supporting us as we support your child.
medical concern. The form requires information on the medical
issue, and a picture of the child. Parents are responsible for
ensuring that all medication and forms are updated annually. If
your child requires medication please have all pertinent forms
completed and returned with the medication to the office as soon
as possible.
A reminder that children are not allowed to keep ANY
medication on their persons, in their desk, backpack or
anywhere in their classroom, unless ordered by their doctor. In
such case, documentation is necessary. All dispensing and
storage of ANY medication must occur from the Office.
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY RULES
ANGELS IN ACTION
This year our Grade 7 & 8 students will be leading our Angels
in Action team during all recesses throughout the day. A
dedicated team of over 30 grade 7 and 8 students have
volunteered their recess time to ensure St. Luke is a safe,
caring and inclusive school for all to play during recesses. Our
leaders will wear newly purchased yellow and black Angels in
Action jackets so they are visible to all students during recess
hours. As part of our safe schools committee, this team will
help other students at recess with fair play, co-operation, and
everyone being included. All Angel in Action leaders were
trained by the school Child and Youth Worker prior to starting
this initiative. A kick off assembly has taken place to inform
all students of this great initiative. We look forward to seeing
the many positive impacts our intermediate students will have
on the school.
ANAPHYLAXIS PLAN
We have a number of staff and students
in our school who have severe allergic
reactions to peanuts, peanut butter,
peanut oils, peanut by-products, pinenuts, shellfish, and
seafood. As in the past, we are asking you to not put anyone at
risk. Do not send any PEANUTS, PEANUT BUTTER,
PEANUT OILS AND ANY PEANUT BY-PRODUCTS,
PINENUTS, SHELLFISH, OR SEAFOOD INTO THE
SCHOOL. This includes products like Nutella as well as
Sushi. Please also be aware that some salad dressings contain
oyster juice which can cause a serious anaphylaxis response.
Please do not send any food products to mark a child’s
birthday. Student birthdays can be acknowledged by sending
non-food items such as a pencil or pen to celebrate a child’s
birthday with his/her peers. Thank you for your co-operation in
this very important matter.
The conduct of individual students on the
bus directly affects the safety of all the
students on the bus. The driver’s
attention needs be on the road. We are
requesting that all parents/guardians
reinforce the School Bus Safety Rules
with their child(ren). All Students
Should:
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Be at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to their stop time.
Never play close to the road.
Be ready to board the bus by waiting in an orderly line.
Board the bus in single file, use the handrail and sit down
in their seat as quickly as possible.
Listen to the bus driver.
Always remain seated while the bus is moving.
Do not throw anything out of the window.
Keep the aisles clear of objects (backpacks, lunches, etc.).
Do not shout or cause any other unnecessary noises.
Be very attentive at railway crossings.
Never put any part of your body out an
open window.
Be sure to look all ways before crossing the road.
Do not damage the bus in anyway.
Do not throw garbage on the floor.
Do not consume any food or drink on the bus.
Bus privileges will be revoked if need be. Thank you for your
support in ensuring that our students journey safely to and
from school.
ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION
We sent home Emergency Allergy Alert
Forms for parents to fill out in the event that your child has a
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FDK REGISTRATION !!!
GR. 1 FRENCH IMMERSION/EXTENDED
FRENCH
Registration for Full-Day Kindergarten for the 2016-2017
school year will take place at St. Luke on the following
days:
Monday, January 25, 2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Friday, January 29, 2016
7:00p.m.-9:00p.m.
9:00a.m.-3:00p.m.
9:00a.m.-3:00p.m.
9:00a.m.-3:00p.m
Any student who is presently in Grade 4 is eligible to enroll in the
Extended French Program for grade 5 in September, 2016.
Transportation is provided for eligible students in the program if
they attend the centre designated for their region. If the number of
the applications received exceeds the places available, a lottery
will be held at a pre-determined and advertised date. The
Information Meeting for the 2016-2017 Extended French
Program will be on Wednesday, January 13 th, at St. Christopher
School.
BUS CANCELLATIONS/SCHOOL CLOSING
DUE TO BAD WEATHER
SNOW DATE: Tuesday, January 26, 2016.
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
hosts parent evening to support the transition
of children with differing abilities into
Kindergarten
On Tuesday, January 12th, 2016, the Dufferin-Peel
Catholic District School Board’s Special Education and
Support Services Department will host a Kindergarten
entry planning information session for parents and
guardians of children with differing abilities which affect
their learning, such as vision, hearing, speech, autism,
physical/medical and/or developmental delays in the
cognitive and/or motor areas, who are entering
Kindergarten in September 2016. The meeting will be
held at the Catholic Education Centre from 7:00p.m.8:30p.m. in room 301. For more information about this
session, call 905-890-0708 ext. 24011.
SNOW DATE: Wednesday, January 13th, 2016.
The prospect of inclement weather is upon us. During the winter
months inclement weather may cause disruption of bus
transportation and regular school operations. A decision to cancel
school transportation and/or to close schools is usually made by
6:00a.m. and will be announced on the following radio and
television stations:
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VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9
CHUM AM1050
CFTR AM680
NEWSTALK 1010AM
CHFI 98.1
CJBC (FR) AM860
EZ ROCK FM97.3
CBC 99.1
CHIN FM100.7/AM1540
FM Z103.5
FM Q107
GLOBAL NEWS
CITYPULSE
CTV
CANADA AM
You can also visit the Board website at www.dpcdsb.org or
any Dufferin-Peel Catholic school website, where a yellow
ALERT banner at the top of the page will advise of any
cancellations or other relevant alert messages.
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Personal Electronic Devices (PED’s)
Personal Electronic Devices on Board Premises
and/or Board Sanctioned Events for educational
Purposes:
Research has shown that children perform better in school if
their parents are involved in their education. We as a staff at
St. Luke Catholic School welcome and encourage parental
involvement.
At or Above Provincial Standards (Levels 3 & 4)
Grade 3
School
Board
Reading
72%
71%
Writing
81%
76%
Math
72%
64%
At or Above Provincial Standards (Levels 3 & 4)
Grade 6
School
Board
Reading
81%
81%
Writing
85%
82%
Math
61%
53%
Province
N/A
N/A
N/A
Province
N/A
N/A
N/A
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District Board
acknowledges the value of the use of
technology for learning. Students will be
permitted to register and use personal electronic
devices (PEDs) on board premises and/or board
sanctioned events for educational purposes,
under the direction of staff and only with
parent/guardian permission. Students may
register their PED for the purpose of connecting
to the board wireless network. Students will be
required to adhere to the student “Personal
Electronic Device Used with WI-FI Network
Student Agreement” (GF066). Please be
advised that the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District
School Board will not be responsible for any
cost incurred through the use of personal data
plans.
In this regard, all cell phones must be kept out of sight,
turned off and not used within school premises or during
school sanctioned activities.
At St. Luke Catholic School we ask that students leave ALL
electronic devices and games at home as the school cannot be
responsible for their safe keeping. Cell phones are permissible as
long as they are turned off and not used in or on school property.
Please keep your child’s valuables at home. Staff cannot be
responsible for any valuables that your child brings to school.
Money, jewelry, electronics, toys, etc., should be kept at
home.
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LUNCH POLICY
Thank you for completing the Lunch
Permission Form and returning it to your
child’s teacher. This will ensure that the
school is aware of where you prefer your
child(ren) to be over the lunch hour. Any changes to the
agreement throughout the year must be submitted in writing to
the teacher and/or office. Thank you for your cooperation in
this matter.
Once children have arrived back at school, they must remain
on school property. They are not permitted to leave school
again without written permission.
A table has been placed outside the office for lunches. Lunches
should only be dropped off on rare occasions. If you are
dropping off a lunch for your child please clearly label your
child’s name and teacher’s name on the outside of the lunch
bag/container and place it on the lunch table. Classes are not
to be interrupted for students to pick up lunches. Please advise
your child(ren) to expect a lunch to be dropped off. They will
be allowed to come down and pick up their lunch at 11:30 a.m.
PIZZA DAYS
This year pizza days will be weekly.
Pizza will be distributed every Friday starting Oct. 2nd
and ending on Dec. 4th. We wish to thank
our Parent Council for organizing our pizza days.
SUB DAYS
Subs will be distributed every Monday starting
Oct. 19th and ending on June 27th.
LUNCH MOMS
Lunches ordered through Lunch Moms will be delivered on
Tuesdays and Thursdays.
HOT DOG DAYS
Wed. Dec. 16th will be
our next hot dog day.
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES ACT
In April 2000, the Child and Family Services Act was amended
and a new law came into effect concerning our obligation to
report concerns about children who may be “in need of
protection”. As per Board’s practice, we will continue our duty
to ensure your child’s safety this year. Within our school
system, every person who has reason to believe that a child is
or may be abused or neglected must report his/her suspicions
directly to the Children’s Aid Society.
The definition of “child in need of protection” because of
suspected child abuse or neglect has been expanded for
Children’s Aid Societies. The law says:
• School staff do not have a choice if they suspect that a
student is or may be in need of protection. Staff must report
their suspicions to a Children’s Aid Society.
• Staff can be fined $1,000.00 for failing to report that a
student is or may be in need of protection.
• It is not the school’s responsibility to investigate suspicion,
evaluate the situation or assign blame.
• When a report is made to Children’s Aid Society, school staff
are required to share information about their concern which
might otherwise be confidential.
• Parents and guardians need to be aware that it is not
necessary for school staff to be sure or to have proof “that a
student is in need of protection”. The law says that school staff
must only have reasonable grounds to suspect child abuse or
neglect. “Reasonable grounds” is defined as being what the
average person would expect given his or her training,
background and experience.
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is committed
to meeting the legal requirements of the Child and Family.
VISITORS/VOLUNTEERS
We wish to thank everyone who faithfully
reports to the Office and signs in when
visiting or volunteering at the school. A reminder to all visitors
INCLUDING PARENTS that they must come to the office
first so they can sign in and pick up a visitors tag. Anyone not
wearing an identification badge will be asked to return to the
office to sign in and pick one up. This procedure will help
students and staff in recognizing our many visitors at the
school.
If you are picking up your child at school at a time other than
regular dismissal, we ask that you report to the office.
Arrangements will be made for your child to be sent to the
office. If you intend to send someone else to pick up your
children, please inform the office. If you are staying to
help/volunteer, then you must sign in at the office and obtain a
visitors tag that you must wear at all times while you are in the
school.
If you wish to meet with a staff member, please call the school or
drop in at the office to make an appointment.
We thank you for your co-operation in supporting a safe
environment at St. Luke School.
EMERGENCY EVACUATION
We have a detailed emergency and fire
evacuation plan. In the event that we do have to
evacuate, our first destination will be Tecumseh
Public School.
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FLU SEASON
We are heading into the flu season. Being parents ourselves, we are keenly aware of the work pressure you
experience when providing care at home for your child who is ill. Nevertheless, aside from being the best course
of action for your child, keeping your sick child at home may also serve to limit the spread of influenza in the
community of school children and staff.
WINTER WEATHER
The cold winds are blowing and winter is just around the corner. Please continue to remind and encourage your
child(ren) to dress appropriately for the weather with warm hats, mittens, coats and boots.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
November 30th-Dec. 4th- Iona Registration forms and fee due to Gr.8 teachers
December 8th – Immunization Round 2 (Intermediates)
December 8th- Nativity Scene Night
December 9th – Virtues Assemblies
December 10th –Santa Visit to St. Luke
December 15th – Confessions in gymnasium
December 16th – Advent Mass in gymnasium (Poinsettia donations welcome to decorate the gym)
December 21st- Jan.3rd- Christmas Holidays
January 13th – Grades 5-8 Ski Trip
January 18th – P.A. Day – Report Card Writing
January 20th- Parent Council Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.
January 25th – FDK Registration 7:00-9:00p.m.
January 27th- Grade 5-8 Ski Trip
“The Church must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone
can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven, and encouraged to live the good
life of the Gospel.”
Pope Francis,The Joy of the Gospel
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